Background: The Fikr Aw Amal Jirga has chosen former interior minister Ali Ahmad Jalali as its new leader with consensus on 20131209, a statement issued by the Jirga said. Jalali had always extended his all out support to promote the cause of the Jirga who could play a highly significant role in improving the government system. Jalali and his members would support country’s elders and candidates with the available resources.

More Background:Fikar aw Amal Jirga was a meeting involving major political parties and statesmen discussing in Kabul the formation of a grand electoral alliance. (20130905) The meeting to form the grand alliance happened at the residence of Mahaz-i-Milli Afghanistan leader Pir Syed Ahmad Gilani.

Former governor and the Fikar wa Amal Jirga spokesman, Mohammad Halim Fidai reportedly said the jirga had been in talks with potential presidential candidates on fielding a single runner over the past eight months (201302-201310). He said the meetings and discussions continued.

He said the jirga had so far held meetings with former jihadi leaders, including Sayyaf, Gillani, Sibghatullah Mujaddedi, Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal, Sabawoon, Haji Din Mohammad and potential wannabes including Dr. Anwarul Haq Ahadi, Ghani Ahmadzai, Dr. Jalali, Qayyum Karzai, Khalilzad, Hanif Atmar and civil society groups. Fidai said the jirga was an Afghan and independent forum and was not campaigning for any particular candidate.

The Fikar wa Amal Jirga on 20131004 called the multiplicity of presidential runners as the biggest challenge to Afghanistan’s landmark elections in 2014. A spokesman for the forum, Mohammad Halim Fidaee, the former governor of Wardak province, said the number of hopefuls was creating hurdles to national and political unity. Fidaee said the civil society group was an independent forum that was not campaigning for any particular candidate. While impartially evaluating candidates, the group will support a team which respects the country’s constitution and Afghan traditions besides adherence to the religious teachings.